Differences in the uptake of modified low density lipoproteins by tissue cultured endothelial cells

Acetylated low density lipoprotein (Ac-LDL) is taken up by bovine aortic and adrenal capillary cells but not by brain capillary cells. This indicates that the uptake of Ac-LDL is not a feature of all types of endothelial cell. A quantitative examination of lipoprotein uptake by flow cytometry showed cells in G2M took up 45% more Ac-LDL than those in G1S. Compared with confluent cultures, sub-confluent bovine aortic cells took up three times as much LDL but Ac-LDL uptake was increased by only 34%. This indicates that the Ac-LDL receptor is not down-regulated to the same extent as that for LDL.